Ford Escapes Recalled For Balky Engine

DETROIT, April 13, 2004; Reuters reported that Ford Motor
Co. is recalling 363,440 of its compact Escape sport utility
vehicles to fix what the automaker described on Tuesday as an
intermittent engine stalling problem.

Most of the vehicles affected by the recall are from the
2001, 2002 and early 2003 model years and were sold in North
America with 3.0 liter V-6 engines, Ford said.

It said about 41,440 were sold outside North America,
however, including Europe.

The second-largest U.S. automaker said the stalling problem
tends to occur during vehicle deceleration at speeds below 40
miles per hour.

Ford said it had received reports of eight alleged minor
accidents stemming from the problem, three of which included
allegations of minor injuries.

Despite the reports, Ford said engine stall on the Escapes
posed "no unreasonable risk of accident or injury."

All three of Detroit's automakers have claimed dramatic
quality improvements in recent years, but they continue to be
hit by a disproportionately high number of vehicle recalls.